Morpeth produced a clinical display to defeat high-flying Buxton at Craik Park on Saturday as the Bucks were punished for their wayward finishing, writes Sam Donovan.
The Highwaymen cantered to a dominant victory thanks to goals from Liam Henderson, Liam Noble and an own goal.
The first half chance came after only five minutes with Ward lashing a volley over the bar when he could have done better and that was to be the mantra of the game for the visitors who would ultimately pay for off target finishing.
The Highwaymen weathered the early storm of pressure from Buxton with the game opening up after a quarter of an hour. Ryan Taylor dinked a ball over the top of Morpeth defence for a rampaging Warren Clarke but the full back was only able to shoot tamely at Dan Lowson.
Morpeth responded barely sixty seconds later with Jack Foalle striding away down the right but his finish from a tight angle was blocked by Theo Richardson in the Buxton goal.
Morpeth had been forced into an early change and it was the substitute, Connor Oliver who could only shoot at Richardson a minute later.
The best chance of the first half fell the way of Ward on 24 minutes but the former Derby County man sent a wild effort over the bar from 10 yards after good play down the right from Ash Chambers.
Morpeth had appeals for a penalty waved away in the latter stages of the half as Liam Henderson went down in the area following a tangle with Ben Turner but the referee waved away the appeals.
Things were heated at the start of the second half with 3 yellow cards in the space of a minute with two for Morpeth, Ryan Donaldson collecting one for a foul and Liam Noble for playing the ball off the stricken Buxton man and Ward collected the card for Buxton for protesting decisions.
Morpeth turned the screw and they went ahead on 53 minutes with Liam Henderson finding the top corner with a curling effort from 20 yards after being teed up by Foalle.
Ward was the dangerman for the Bucks and he continued to have the best opportunities for the away side. He picked up possession after possession had been given up but his rasping effort was pushed away by Lowson as he got back into position.
Micky Turner went close to doubling the advantage on 62 minutes but he thundered a header a few yards wide of the post following a cross from Donaldson after a quick corner.
Andrew Johnson and Foalle were both denied within moments of each other as firstly Richardson made a save and then the ball broke off a defender and was cleared to safety.
The lead was doubled on 69 minutes as Liam Noble stepped up and sent Richardson the wrong way from the penalty spot after Liam Henderson had been bundled over after a stirring run from Johnson.
Ward was single handedly trying to rescue his side and he had two attempts on 72 minutes but Lowson was equal to them both as he made good blocks to preserve the two goal lead.
The points were sealed on 78 minutes as Foalle scampered down the right and cut into the area before sending a low ball across the box that was turned into his own net by a sliding Josh Granite.
The visitors continued to search for a goal but Morpeth were relatively untroubled, Clarke again going close in the 89th minute but he sent his shot from 6yards over the crossbar.
Morpeth are next in action on Tuesday evening when they welcome Stalybridge Celtic to Craik Park, kick off is at 7.45pm.
Morpeth Town: Lowson, Walton (Oliver, 11’), Phillips, Hodgson, J. Henderson (c), Turner, Foalle, Noble (Sayer, 80’), L. Henderson (Finnigan, 88’), Donaldson, Johnson.
Subs not Used: Morris, Ramsey.
Goals: L. Henderson 53’, Noble 69’, OG 78’.
Buxton: Richardson, Curley, Clarke, Cowan (Granite, 37’), Turner, Taylor, Ward (c), Dawson, Gilchrist, Elliott, Chambers (Heaney, 75’).
Subs not Used: Meikle, Fox, H. Richardson.
